49 pages • 1 hour read
Lauren MarkhamThe Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Markham references the United States’ responsibility in conditions driving the “migrant crisis” at the United States border. Cite several reasons Markham believes that the United States bears some responsibility. Argue for or against her claim.
What external and internal pressures did Raúl and Ernesto face in the United States? How did they react to those pressures? What did they do well? What could they have done better?
Explain the conditions that trapped Ernesto, Raúl, and the Flores family in El Salvador. What conditions trap them in the United States? What can the United States do to alleviate these conditions for migrants?
Describe Maricela’s life in El Salvador. What options does she have? How do her options differ from those of young Salvadoran men like Ernesto, Raúl, and Ricardo?
Markham mentions that Salvadoran gang members remain poor and struggle for survival. Given that life in a gang is dangerous and doesn’t improve members’ economic prospects, why do they join?
Explain the rise in gangs within the Northern Triangle. What are the causes? How do the gangs display their power and exert their control in society? What can the government do to address it?
The twins note that East Oakland feels poorer than La Colonia, which is itself a poor town in El Salvador. Why do they feel this way? Given the disparity between the economic prosperity of the United States compared to El Salvador, explain this viewpoint.
What can the United States do to better welcome immigrants and accept them into society? What costs are associated with such measures? What are the potential benefits? What are the costs of not taking such measures?
What can the United States do to improve conditions in Central and South American countries? How will those countries benefit from such measures? How will the United States benefit?
Many immigrant detention facilities, like the one that housed Raúl and Ernesto, are operated by private contractors. What are the benefits of such a system? What are the drawbacks? How can the system be better facilitated?
